I have heard, a lot, about this push to be an 'informed patient'. I think this is absolutely VITAL in keeping my health the best it can possibly be. This, however, DOES NOT MEAN to go onto Wikipedia and scare yourself to death over a small symptom. These are the most important pieces of advice that I can give as to being an informed patient:
1. Find a clear, reputable, and concise website that you can trust to go for all of your medical questions and research. Do not just use search engines. It's best if it is an actual medical website that is attached to a health services website in your area.
2. Get to know what medications/supplements/vitamins you are taking, in exact dosages, and perhaps even write them down. Know what you are taking, when you are taking them, and always let your health professional know. ALWAYS.
3. When doctors ask you if you do recreational drugs, it is NOT to get you into trouble or to preach to you or lecture you, it is specifically to figure out the cause of symptoms, and to monitor the drugs going into your system. Certain medicinal drugs can react with recreational drugs. If they are unaware of that kind of drug activity, then they may prescribe something that could get you killed.
4. Instead of worrying about all of the information on the internet - focus on what you are physically feeling. Sit down, breathe, focus in on where exactly your symptom is - what other symptoms or pains are different, new, or have changed. Really try and get in tune with your body. No one will ever be able to fully understand your discomfort other than you - so get to know your body as well as you possibly can. That way you can learn how to decipher which new symptoms are dangerous, and which can be monitored but don't need to be addressed right away.
5. Be kind. Doctors are humans too - and humans make mistakes. Most doctors go into that specific field with hopes to help patients, not purposely harm them. On that note though, absolutely be your own advocate. If you have no one advocating for you, then you need to realize what your best interests are, and fight for them if the alternative seems unreasonable.
6. Unless a new therapy/medication/diet plan causes an allergic reaction, excess severe pain, etc.... Give each new 'therapy' or idea at least three months before you kick it to the curb. Sometimes results can be seen immediately, but, like with most things, sometimes results will only come after several months of a routine treatment. Once you are ready to give a new treatment a go - give it a good, honest, dedicated try for several months. Then, if it doesn't work for you, at least you gave it a true effort.
The best thing to remember in all of this is that the only person who can truly help you is yourself.
Pain diaries, food diaries, medication diaries, appointment diaries, activity diaries - they can all be incredibly important. Find something that works for you and your schedule.
Be an informed patient - know what you are taking, why you are taking it, and who prescribed it to you. Keep track of diagnoses, diagnostic tests, medications, test results, etc... Know what is going on with your care.
Smile - there are ways to get through every situation. Don't give up.
1. Find a clear, reputable, and concise website that you can trust to go for all of your medical questions and research. Do not just use search engines. It's best if it is an actual medical website that is attached to a health services website in your area.
2. Get to know what medications/supplements/vitamins you are taking, in exact dosages, and perhaps even write them down. Know what you are taking, when you are taking them, and always let your health professional know. ALWAYS.
3. When doctors ask you if you do recreational drugs, it is NOT to get you into trouble or to preach to you or lecture you, it is specifically to figure out the cause of symptoms, and to monitor the drugs going into your system. Certain medicinal drugs can react with recreational drugs. If they are unaware of that kind of drug activity, then they may prescribe something that could get you killed.
4. Instead of worrying about all of the information on the internet - focus on what you are physically feeling. Sit down, breathe, focus in on where exactly your symptom is - what other symptoms or pains are different, new, or have changed. Really try and get in tune with your body. No one will ever be able to fully understand your discomfort other than you - so get to know your body as well as you possibly can. That way you can learn how to decipher which new symptoms are dangerous, and which can be monitored but don't need to be addressed right away.
5. Be kind. Doctors are humans too - and humans make mistakes. Most doctors go into that specific field with hopes to help patients, not purposely harm them. On that note though, absolutely be your own advocate. If you have no one advocating for you, then you need to realize what your best interests are, and fight for them if the alternative seems unreasonable.
6. Unless a new therapy/medication/diet plan causes an allergic reaction, excess severe pain, etc.... Give each new 'therapy' or idea at least three months before you kick it to the curb. Sometimes results can be seen immediately, but, like with most things, sometimes results will only come after several months of a routine treatment. Once you are ready to give a new treatment a go - give it a good, honest, dedicated try for several months. Then, if it doesn't work for you, at least you gave it a true effort.
The best thing to remember in all of this is that the only person who can truly help you is yourself.
Pain diaries, food diaries, medication diaries, appointment diaries, activity diaries - they can all be incredibly important. Find something that works for you and your schedule.
Be an informed patient - know what you are taking, why you are taking it, and who prescribed it to you. Keep track of diagnoses, diagnostic tests, medications, test results, etc... Know what is going on with your care.
Smile - there are ways to get through every situation. Don't give up.